Explore the Family Name De Soto
The meaning of De Soto
Spanish: habitational name, formed with the preposition de ‘from’, for someone from any of numerous places called Soto (see Soto). History: Hernando De Soto (1495–1542) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who led expeditions in Cuba, Florida, and vast areas of Central America and the southern part of North America. He was appointed governor of Cuba in 1538, a role fulfilled by his wife Isabel (Inés) during his long absences. His expeditions are noted for bringing death and destruction to the regions that he visited, not least because the native peoples had no natural immunity to the European diseases that his soldiers brought with them. His name is commemorated in the names of several cities and other locations in the southern US. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Hernando, Juan, Margarita, Rafael, Xavier, Aida, Aleyda, Angel, Angelina, Berta, Beto, Blanca.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name De Soto in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname De Soto saw a minor shift between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, De Soto was ranked 11,876 in terms of popularity and increased to a rank of 11,946 in 2010, reflecting a slight decrease in popularity by 0.59%. However, the number of individuals with this surname rose from 2,414 in 2000 to 2,617 in 2010, indicating an 8.41% increase. The proportion per 100,000 people remained consistent at 0.89 for both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,876 | #11,946 | -0.59% |
| Count | 2,414 | 2,617 | 8.41% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.89 | 0.89 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name De Soto
The ethnic identity associated with the surname De Soto also experienced changes during the same period according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. The largest group identifying as De Soto was White, decreasing slightly from 53.15% in 2000 to 49.60% in 2010. Those identifying as Hispanic increased from 40.06% to 42.45%, making it the second most common ethnicity linked to the surname. Interestingly, the percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased significantly by 52.63%, though they still make up a relatively small portion of the total. Other ethnic identities such as Black, American Indian and Alaskan Native, and those identifying with two or more races showed minor fluctuations.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 53.15% | 49.6% | -6.68% |
| Hispanic | 40.06% | 42.45% | 5.97% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.28% | 3.48% | 52.63% |
| Two or More Races | 1.99% | 1.87% | -6.03% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.86% | 1.76% | -5.38% |
| Black | 0.66% | 0.84% | 27.27% |